[Elecraft] K3: QRQ high-speed QSK

[David Cutter]

This is a *little* OT, but I've just read in a 1914 WT book that they were 
regularly running at 300wpm on spark transmitters.  The very clever trick 
was to operate the spark continuously and FSK it by switching between taps 
in the antenna tank.  The receivers were direct conversion using rotary 
generators on nominal freq then recording the difference on a pen recorder - 
I suppose an undulator by another name.  I don't think FSK and DC were 
phrases in common use at the time.  Astonishing.

David
G3UNA


>
> There are some really good QRQ ops out there.  W4BQF and W2UP come to 
> mind.
> I know that W4BQF routinely copies and sends over 100WPM, and he uses an
> Icom 7700.  Having owned the '7700, its QSK is very fast -- until you add 
> an
> external amp where keying artifacts begin appearing on anything but the
> fastest switching amps. The '7800 I owned did not have this problem, nor
> does the K3.
>
> I agree that getting the K3 to run more accurately when using faster CW 
> and
> an external keyer would be a welcome update -- but not at the expense of
> introducing any other artifacts (e.g., clicks, delayed T/R time, etc.)
>
> Paul, W9AC